Alfred Marcy

Alfred Russell Marcy (July 21, 1900 – May 19, 1977) was a United States Army colonel who was the Chief of the Radio Division and Deputy Signal Officer of the Central Pacific command during World War II. During the Korean War, he was specifically selected to become signal officer by General Edward Almond of the U.S. Army X Corps for the Inchon landings and operations in North Korea.

Alfred Russell Marcy
Born	(1900-07-21)July 21, 1900 Oneida, New York, U.S.
Died	May 19, 1977(1977-05-19) (aged 76) Melbourne, Florida, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	31 years
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	3rd Battalion, 108th Infantry XO 54th Infantry Brigade, 27th Div Signal Officer HQ X Corps FECOM
Battles/wars	World War II Eastern Mandates Southwest Pacific Western Pacific Korean War
Awards	Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Air Medal

Early life

Alfred Russell Marcy, son of Albert Theodore Marcy and Julia Edna (Park) Marcy was born in Oneida, New York, July 21, 1900.[1] His father worked as an industrial blacksmith and foreman for a steel company; his mother liked to write poetry and doted on crossword puzzles.

Following graduation from high school, Marcy entered into the New York Guard. While in the New York Guard, he worked in radio for WFBL, where he eventually became Chief Radio Engineer. By 1928, Marcy had been promoted to 2nd lieutenant of infantry of the 108th in the New York Guard as well as the US Army Reserve. Less than two years later, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant of infantry in both.

World War II

On October 15, 1940, Marcy made the move from the New York Guard to the U.S. Army with the rank of major. At Fort Ord, California, while awaiting transfer overseas, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. While in Hawaii, he commanded the 3rd Battalion of the 108th Infantry until he was shifted to the island of Kauai, where he served as executive officer of the 54th Infantry Brigade, 27th Division. He also planned and supervised installation of radio navigation aids and point-to-point joint army-navy radio stations from Hawaii to New Zealand and throughout the Central Pacific.

Marcy was promoted to full colonel in September 1944. He then was engaged in communication planning for assaults against Japanese base stations in the Gilberts, Marshalls, Palaus, Marianas, Bonins and the Ryukyu Islands.[2] Colonel Alfred Russell Marcy served as the American Chief of the Radio Division and Deputy Signal Officer of the Central Pacific command during World War II.

Korean War

After the war, he became deputy chief of the Army Communications System with headquarters in Washington, D.C. From August to October 1947, he served in Turkey in support of the Truman Doctrine.

When the Korean War broke out he was on a training mission with V Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then flown to Korea to become signal officer of the U.S. IX Corps during the Naktong River battles. He was then specifically selected by General Ned Almond to be signal officer of the U.S. X Corps for the Battle of Inchon landings and operations in North Korea.[3]

Dates of rank

Second Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Captain	major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel
O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	O-5	O-6
NGUS 11 July 1928	NGUS 7 June 1930	NGUS 8 August 1938	NGUS 15 October 1940	AUS 1 February 1942	AUS 6 September 1944
USAR 28 August 1928	USAR 8 July 1930		RA 24 August 1946	RA 15 July 1948	RA 15 May 1950

Awards and decorations

•   Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster
•   Bronze Star
•   Air Medal
•   American Defense Service Medal
•   American Campaign Medal
•   Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
•   World War II Victory Medal
•   Korean Service Medal
•   Armed Forces Reserve Medal
•   National Defense Service Medal
•   United Nations Service Medal
•   Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
• Overseas Service Bars

References

1. Genealogy of the Parke Families of Massachusetts: Including Richard Parke.
2. Pearl Harbor Attack: Hearings Before the Joint Committee on the Pearl Harbor Attack. Washington DC: GPO, 1946.
3. unknown (January 1948). "Col A.R. Marcy on Terminal Leave". Auburn Citizen.

Further reading

• Employment of Retired Military and Civilian Personnel by Defense Industries. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1959.
• Wickersham, Virginia Voorheis. Interference in American Foreign Affairs by Unauthorized American Citizens. Leland Stanford Junior University, 1943.